These wintery loaf cakes are the perfect pick-me-ups in the cold weather

A cake baked in a loaf tin has a different feel to it than one in a round tin. We very rarely use a loaf cake to celebrate a birthday and would never think of using one on a wedding day. It is puzzling, as the same ingredients can go into both.

A loaf is seen as a more familiar partner that comforts us around the house, a day to day accompaniment in a lunch box or a pick me up or an cold winter’s evening.